Following the airline’s recent profit announcement Air New Zealand confirmed today that it will go ahead with a programme to upgrade the interior of its eight Boeing 777-200ERs to match the product on offer on its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. Improvements will be made to all cabins with upgraded Business Class seats, the SpaceSeat in Premium Economy and SkyCouch seats in Economy. The Panasonic eXlite In Flight Entertainment system will be fitted in all cabins. The first reconfigured aircraft will enter service in mid 2004.

Air New Zealand Airbus A320 ZK-OJN positioned Melbourne – Brisbane this morning as NZ6802. The aircraft had arrived into Melbourne yesterday as NZ721 from Auckland and as a result of the positioning flight NZ722 Melbourne – Auckland was cancelled this morning. After arrival in Brisbane the aircraft operated NZ764 Brisbane – Norfolk Island.

The movement was required due to the cancellation of NZ803 Christchurch – Brisbane, which appears to have been due to a technical issue with A320 ZK-OJN.

Air New Zealand Boeing 767-319ER ZK-NCI operating NZ9 Honolulu – Auckland (depart Honolulu 4th September) aborted its approach to Auckland at around 1,500 ft due to an unsafe gear indication. Cross checks and visual inspections confirmed that all gear was down and the aircraft landed around 25 minutes later.

Air New Zealand Boeing 777-319ER ZK-OKP operating the Los Angeles – London Heathrow sector of NZ2 Auckland – Los Angeles – London Heathrow (depart Auckland 31st August) encountered a hydraulic system failure over the North Atlantic. The aircraft continued to London squawking 7700 emergency code and landed safely, though with all gear doors open.